Street-flushing apparatus.



J. M. THOMPSON.

STREET FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, 193- Patented May'23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J M. THOMPSON. STREET HUSHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. 1913.

1,1 84,274. A Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- JOHN M. THOMPSON, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STREET-FLUSHING APPARATUS.

' Improvement in Street-Flushing Apparastream of water discharged from a. nozzle.

tus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for flushing and cleaning streets by means of a The cleaning of streets in this manner has heretofore been accomplished by means of a largeflexible hose which is attached to a street. hydrant. This requires a considerable force of men to drag the heavy hose from place .to placeon the pavement and to hold I and manipulate the nozzle, and the drag I nipulate the nozzle.

readily moved and manipulated to direct. the streamas may be necessary to properly I clean the street; also to so construct the apparatus as to greatly reduce the number i of men required to handle the same and maging of the hose on the pavement rapidly wears out the same. This system was improved by replacing a part of the hose by a pipeline consisting of a plurality of flexibly connected pipe sections mounted on wheels to facilitate the moving of the same about on the street and to which a short length of hose having a discharge nozzle was connected.

with the consequent wear thereof, and it required more than oneman to hold and ma- Various power-operated'means, such as motor trucks, have also been employed to support the nozzle and move the same from place to place, but these means are too unwieldly and cannot be readily shifted to bring the nozzle into any desired position.

The objects of this invention are to produce a street flushing apparatus adapted to be attached directly to a hydrant, in

V which the dragging of a flexible hose on the pavement is eliminated, but which can be nipulate the nozzle; also to arrange the discharge nozzle of the apparatus. near the pavement to avoid the washing out of sand or fillerfrom the crevices between. paving stones.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure l is a plan view of a street flushing apparatus embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Specification of Letters Patent.

This system did not eliminate the dragging of some of the hose on the pavement Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed November 15, 1913. Serial No. 801,313.

the discharge end thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the discharge end of the apparatus on line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the end of the movable pipe section which is adapted to be connected with the pipe line, and the supporting truck therefor.

Briefly stated, the apparatus consists of a portable pipe line consisting of a number of flexibly connected pipe sections mounted on supporting wheels or trucks and a movable pipe section having a discharge nozzle swiveled thereon. 'The movable section is adapted to-be connected with the pipe line at any one of a number of connectors, arranged at intervals on the pipe line, and is adapted to swing about its connection with the pipe line. The outer end of the movable section .is supported by a truck or caster so thatthe operator-is relieved of the weight thereof and of the nozzle in using the apparatus, and a handle is provided by which a single man can readily. swing the movable pipe section and turn the nozzle to any desired position. I

A represents a portable pipe line which consists of a plurality of pipe sections a a which are connected at their ends by suitable unions or couplings o those employed in the, construction shown including shortlengths of flexible hose a which enable the pipe line to pass around corners and to be the movable pipe section, which is connected.

with the'pipe line A, is also preferably supported on a truck or carriage F.

Thedischarge end of the movable pipe section is connected to the nozzle in such a manner that the nozzle is free to swing horizontally about the end of the movable section, and this end of the pipe section together with the nozzle are mounted upon the truck D. In the construction shown, the discharge end of the movable pipe sectionis swiveled to a casing G to which the discharge nozzle is also connected, and the casing is pivotally mounted on the truck D. A handle H, secured to. the

casing G, serves to direct the nozzle and also to swing the movable pipe sectionC to any desired position. By means of this construction one man can'direct the stream of water from the nozzle and can also move the nozzle from place to place as desired.

The swivel, connection between the'casing' v Gland the pipe section may be of any suitable construction. As shown, an elbow g is secured on the end of the movable pipe section which is connected with a nipple 95. Th nipple is held and adapted toturn in a stuffing box g? formed in the casing G. By means of this constructionthe nipple g and thecasing G are free to turn relatively to each other on the axis of the'nipiple so that the nozzle can be turned to whatever position may be necessaryto direct the stream of water in any desired direction. Thenoz zlemay be secured to the casing G in any suitable manner. Other means for rotatably connecting the end of the movable pipe section and the nozzle may be employed if de- The truck D, which supports the discharge end of the movable pipe section and the nozzle, maybe of any'suitable construction The truck shown in the drawings consists of a platform 21 on which wheels or casters i are pivotally mounted, preferably on ball bearings i 7 The casing G is preferably pivotally mounted on the truck D to further facilitate the movement of thevnozzle, although the casing maybe rigidly mounted-on' the truck if desired@ Inthe construction; shown, a stud Kissecured to the casing G and ex-,

tends downwardly through a hole in the 7 platform 71.

on the pipe line; I The connectors may be of any suitable kind and are closed'bycaps Z The-end of themovable pipe section C section on a truck so that the pipe section from the pipe line. For'this reason this end of the movable pipe section is mounted upon the carriage F, which consists of, a tube L provided with supporting wheels Z. The

movable pipe section is connected with the tube L of the carriagevby a swivel joint Z which may be o fanysuitable construction.

The tube L hasconnected to it a short piece 7 of flexible hose Z provided with an ordinary hose coupling Z at its end adapted to be con% nected with anyone of a plurality of connectors Z*-whichare arranged at'intervals tube L in any suitablemanner. enable the carriage to adaptitself to rough f when th e cou'pling l is "not in connection therewith.

The'wheels'l maybe connected to the short In orderto or uneven pavements the wheels are preferably arranged in two pairs M M, each pair being j ournaled at m m on a ring/m which loosely embraces the short tube L and is free to turn on the tubeQ Each ringisheldin place between two collars m m 'whichare secured on the tube at opposite sides ofthe' I ring m by set screws m 'Otheruneans could be employed for mounting the carriage" F on wheels.

V In the operation. of the device, the pipe line is drawn from, hydrant to hydrant and themovable pipe section is connected first to one and then to another oi the different con-1;

nectors of the pipe line. iThe mov-ablepipe section can be swung about its swivel connection substantially in the are of afci-rcle,

as indicated in dotted lines "inFigs' l, and V the nozzle can be swung in'the arc of a circle i r 9o 1 section so that by these tworelatively movable 7 7 7 about the discharge end of the movable pipe parts, anyportion of; a street can be reached by the. stream of water from the nozzle.

The movable pipesection, mountedon 'trncks or wheels, replaces the hose heretofore" used and is much more durable and less liable-to wear out than the'hosef The mounting of the movable pipe sectionon trucks enables, V

the same to be easily drawne about on the street when disconnected from the pipe line and greatly reducesthelaborrequired'tooperate the apparatus. With the construction described, one man can direct the nozzle by means of the handle'I-I-and'can at thesame I timemove the dischargeend ofthe movable pipe section about; 'IIn using afiexible hose 'a' 'considerablerforce' of men is" required to handle the nozzle, owing tothe tendency of the hose to straighten itself eout when water -underpressu're flows -through--'it.'. By mak ing the movable part of, the apparatus of rigid pipes. or tubes, th'e'numberof menre 1 quired to handle the nozzle is greatlyreduced since this tendency-is resisted byth'e rigidity of the movable pipe. The arranging of the nozzlenear the pavement asgde-i scribed prevents "the'washing of 'the'sandr fromrbetweenthe'paving stones, which frej' quently occurswith flushingappa'ratus in 120 which the nozzle is held at a considerable distance above the ground;- The provisioni "ofthe flexible hose Z andthe hose coupling Z enables'the movable pipe sectionfto' be quickly and easily connected to'the pipeline at any. desired connector. When moving the 11, apparatus to and from the work the movable pipe section Gcan be disconnected from its two trucks, thus enabling these parts to be of'li-fting and carrying theparts. P 4

'separately'handled and reducing the laborff 136,

I claim as my invention:

1. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination of a pipe line adapted to be moved alonga street and to be connected with a source of water supply, a rigid pipe section, a plurality of connectors arranged at intervals along said pipe line and to any one of which one end of said pipe section is adapted to be connected, said pipe section being movable to different angular relations to said pipe line when connected thereto, means for supporting the other end of said pipe section independently of the pipe line, and a discharge nozzle at said other end of the pipe section.

In a street flushing apparatus, the combination of a pipe line adapted to be moved along a street and to be connected with a source of water supply, a plurality of connectors arranged at intervals on said pipe line, a rigid pipe section adapted-to be connected at one end with any one of saidconnectors and movable to diflerent angular relations to the pipe line, a truck on which said pipe section is mountedindependently of said pipe line, and a discharge nozzle'on said pipe section. I

3. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination with a pipe line movable along. a street and provided with a plurality of coupling means between the ends thereof, of a rigid pipe section adapted to be connected at one end with any one of said coupling means and movable to difierent angular relations to the pipeline, means for support.- ing the other end of the pipe section, and a discharge nozzle at said other end of the pipe section. V

4. Ina street flushing apparatus, the combination with a pipe line movable along a street and provided with a plurality of coupling means between the ends thereof, of a rigid pipe section adapted to be connected at one end with anyone of said'coupling means and movable todifferent angular re lations to the pipe line, means for supporting the otherend. of the pipe section, and a discharge nozzle pivoted to the other end of the pipe section and supported on said supporting means. v

5. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination with a pipe line movablealong a street and provided with a plurality of coupling means between the ends thereof, of a rigid pipe section adapted to be connected at one end with any one of said coupling means, a swivel connectionat said end of the pipe section, a discharge nozzle swiveled to the other end of the pipe section, and means pivotally connected with and supporting said other end of the pipe section;

6. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination with a'pipe line provided at intervals throughout its length with coupling means, of a rigid pipe section adapted to be connected at its receiving end with any one of said coupling means and swiveled at said receiving end to permit the pipe section to swing to different angular relations to the pipe line, a discharge nozzle on said movable pipe section which is movable to different angular relations to said pipe section, means for supporting the receiving end of said pipe section, and a truck on which the nozzle and the discharge end of said pipe section are mounted.

7. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a pipe line provided at intervals throughout its length with coupling means, of a rigid pipe section adapted to be connected at one end with any one of said coupling means and movable to difierent angular positions relatively to said pipe line, and a truck supporting the other end of the pipe section, said truck including a platform which is swiveled to said pipe section and caster wheels on which said platform is mounted and which are connected with said platform to swing about substantially upright axes.

8. Ina flushing apparatus, the combination with a pipe line provided at intervals throughout its length with coupling means, of a rigidpipe section adapted to be connected at one end with any one of said coupling means and movable to different angular positions relatively to said pipe line, a discharge nozzle having a swivelconnection withthe other end of said pipe section, and a caster wheel which is adapted to swing on a substantially vertical axis and on which said discharge nozzle is pivotally-mounted.

'9. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination with a source of water supply, of a rigid pipe section movably connected at its receiving end with said source of supply, a discharge nozzle having a swivel connection with the other end of said pipe section, a caster supporting said other end of said pipe section, and a handle connected with said nozzle for turning said nozzle and for moving said pipe section.

10. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination with a source of water supply, of a rigid pipe section movably connected at its receiving end with said source of supply, a discharge nozzle having a swivel connection with the other end of said pipe section, a caster supporting said other end of said. pipe section and mounted to swing about a substantially upright pivot, and a handle connected with said nozzle for turning said nozzle and for moving said pipe section.

7 11, In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a source of water supply, of a rigid pipe section movably connected at its receiving end with said source of water supply, a discharge nozzle, a supporting platform for the discharge nozzle and for the discharge end of said pipe -section, said plat form, nozzle and pipe section being pivotally connected to swing freely-relatively chamber and adapted to turn relatively to said truck, a truck supporting the outer end of said pipe section, and a discharge nozzle swiveled'to said pipe section 13. In a street flushing apparatus, the combination of a pipe line, wheels on which the pipe line is mounted andfwhich adapt the same to be moved along a street, a plu-' r'ality of connectors arranged onisaid pipe line at intervals throughout the length thereof, aniovable rigid pipe sectionmounted oncasters and'adapted' to 'be'connected withany of said connectors, and adischarge nozzle having a swiveled connection withsaid pipe section.

14:. In a flushing apparatus, the combina' tion of. a rigid pipe section, supporting means 'for the receiving end of said'pipe sec- 7 tober,'1913.

tion and relatively to which said pipe'section is movable, a discharge nozzle swiveled to the other end of said pipe section, a caster wheel having a swiveled connection with said discharge nozzle, and means connected to said 1 discharge nozzle for directing said 7 copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the fGoinmisSiorier of l atentsi g 'Washington, D. 01 i i nozzle and for moving other end of the I 'means for the receiving end ofsaid pipe sec- 40 tion, and relatively to which said pipe 'sec-.

tion is movable, a discharge nozzle sWiveled to the other end of said pipe section,a,plat-' form swiveled to said discharge'nozzle, cas ter wheelssupportingsaid platform, and '45 means connectedtosaid discharge-nozzle for directingjsaid nozzle andyior' moving the discharge end of saidrplpe section.

, 16 In a flushingapparatus.the combina? tion'with a source of water supply, of apipe line adapted to :be moved along the street and to be connectedwith said sourceof water supply, a truclnja conduit mounted on saidtruck and adapted to be connected, 7

with said pipe line, a rigid pipe section '55 swiveled at one end to said conduit and v adapted-to receive water therefrom, a dis-.7

,charge nozzle swive'led toithe other endof said pipe section, 'a-caster wheel having a:

swivel connection with said discharge noz-" zle, and meansconnectedeto'said discharge 1 nozzle for directing said nozzle and for moving said other endof the pipe sections" VV-itness-my V Witnesses: I .C. IV. PARKER,

A. L. j

hand,"this 29th dayof iO'c- JOHN iiif rnoi rson. I ff 

